Pawning lifespan, starting from a low-level martial arts world to transform into a dragon.

Chapter 86 Setting a Trap! A Fool's Quick Idea (Please Subscribe)

Zuo Dongxi was slightly taken aback.

He didn't speak immediately, but remained silent for a moment before asking in a deep voice, "What do you want her to do?"

Chen Ye said in a low voice, "It's not a difficult matter. Just have her pass on a message to the eldest young mistress, Madam Guo, saying that there are rumors outside that the elders are very dissatisfied with the eldest young master Feng Rong's behavior, and that Feng Bainian's mind has wavered again. He privately feels that Feng Rong is ruthless and unfit for important tasks, and intends to extend his confinement."

Zuo Dongxi asked, "Is this fake news?"

"It's half true, half false," Chen Ye said calmly. "Whether the elders truly intend this or not is not important. What's important is that Guo Shi hears this and believes it's Feng Bainian's intention. Therefore, it's safest to entrust this matter to you."

Zuo Dongxi pondered for a moment, then looked up at Chen Ye and said, "I'll try my best, but—but—what if she refuses?"

Chen Ye smiled and said with certainty, "If she hadn't agreed, she wouldn't have risked her life to deliver your message from prison. The fact that she was willing to go through all that trouble for you shows that she hasn't severed ties with you. Brother Zuo, this kindness should be used when necessary."

Zuo Dongxi gave a wry smile upon hearing this and said nothing more.

"Then it's settled. Get ready, you'll go see her tomorrow."

"it is good."

Chen Ye cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Zuo. Please let me know if you have any news."

Early morning in the Feng family's backyard.

As usual, Li Xing'er carried a basin of freshly washed clothes out of the laundry room and walked towards the inner courtyard with her head down.

Like maids, the concubines in the Feng family had to do rough and chores during the day and take care of Feng Bainian's daily life.

Sometimes they had to wait for the orders of the mistress, Lady Guan, and even serve Feng Bainian and his other concubines in their marital affairs at night.

Their status was lowly, and they couldn't be considered respectable.

She got up earlier than usual today, hoping to finish her work before the sun got too strong.

As she passed the artificial hill, a hand suddenly reached out from behind, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into the shadow of the hill.

Li Xing'er thought she had been robbed and was about to scream when the person behind her covered her mouth.

She panicked and bit down.

"Don't bite, don't bite, Xing'er, it's me," Zuo Dongxi said urgently in a low voice.

Hearing Zuo Dongxi's voice, Li Xing'er quickly turned around, her heart leaping into her throat. "What are you doing at the Feng family's? It's broad daylight! What if someone sees you!" she exclaimed.

At this moment, Zuo Dongxi changed into a gray cloth short brown outfit and wore a half-worn servant's hat, looking completely different from his usual self.

Zuo Dongxi said, "I've checked the area; there's no one there."

Li Xing'er was both angry and scared, but she kept her voice down and said, "You'd better leave quickly! If Feng Bainian sees you, he'll beat you to death. Even if I beg him again now, he might not spare your life like he did back then."

"I've come today to ask you to pass on a few words. I'll leave after I've said them." Zuo Dongxi put away his smile, glanced around the artificial hill to make sure no one was nearby, and then lowered his voice to say what was important.

Li Xing'er asked, "What did you say?"

"Isn't the eldest young mistress often trying to find out what Feng Bainian is thinking from you these days? Next time she comes to you, tell her that Feng Bainian privately believes that the eldest young master is ruthless and incapable of being of any use, and that there is absolutely no room for negotiation regarding his confinement. Tell her to give up on that idea as soon as possible. A few days ago, when he was discussing matters with the clan elders, Feng Bainian had already planned to reselect the Feng family heir."

After hearing this, Li Xing'er instinctively became alert and asked, "What exactly do you want to do?"

"No matter what we do, once it's done, you'll never have to suffer this kind of humiliation in the manor again," Zuo Dongxi said. "This shouldn't be too difficult for you."

Li Xing'er nodded and didn't ask any more questions. She said, "Okay, I'll talk to the young mistress about it later."

"Be careful," Zuo Dongxi reminded him.

"I understand." Li Xing'er glanced at Zuo Dongxi, hesitated, and finally sighed deeply, picked up the wooden basin, and went around from behind the artificial hill.

Just around the corner, I bumped into a young maid who was up early to sweep and clean.

The other person greeted her crisply with "Good morning, Sister Xing'er!" Li Xing'er responded without changing her expression and walked unhurriedly towards the inner courtyard, showing no sign of anything amiss.

Zuo Dongxi leaned against the artificial rock for a while until there was no more movement nearby, then straightened up, straightened his short brown robe, and quietly left the Feng family's back garden along the path he had come from.

Coincidentally.

It's unclear whether the recent rumors circulating in the mansion have made Madam Guo uneasy.

That evening, Madam Guo, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Feng family, summoned Li Xing'er to her room.

The maids in the courtyard had been sent away by Madam Guo beforehand, leaving her alone in the large room, which felt even more desolate than usual.

After entering the room, Li Xing'er bowed deeply to Madam Guo and asked, "Young Madam, did you want to see me?"

"Sister Xing, how have you been at home these days? Has anyone been giving you any trouble?"

Li Xing'er said, "Thank you for your concern, young mistress. Everything is fine."

Upon hearing this, Madam Guo took out a dressing case from beside the table, beckoned to Li Xing'er, and said, "Come here."

Li Xing'er carefully stepped forward.

Madam Guo stuffed the dressing case into Li Xing'er's hands and said, "You work so hard every day, you should dress up a bit to make a living in this mansion. This is some rouge I bought yesterday. Keep it. Next time the master comes to see you, you can dress up nicely and it will come in handy."

Li Xing'er repeatedly declined, saying, "Young Madam, this is too precious, I cannot accept it."

"Hey, we're all sisters from the same household, why are you being so polite with me? It's just a tael of silver."

When Guo said this, she emphasized the words "one tael of silver".

Li Xing'er couldn't refuse, so she had to accept it.

After seeing Li Xing'er accept the gift, Madam Guo smiled and said, "These past two days you've been serving the master frequently, do you know what his attitude is towards the eldest young master's matter?"

She sighed deeply and said, "Alas, the eldest young master is locked up inside now, and everyone in the manor is keeping it from me. Even the madam won't tell me the truth. As his wife, I'm really worried. Xing'er, if you know anything, please don't hide it from me."

Li Xing'er remained silent for a moment, a hint of struggle flashing across her face, before finally speaking in a low voice, "Yesterday I dared to ask about the eldest young master, and the master told me privately that he is ruthless, ambitious but incompetent, and unfit for important tasks!"

Ignoring Guo's increasingly unpleasant expression, she continued, "In addition, the elders have been quite vocal in their opinions lately, so the master intends to handle the eldest son's matter quietly."

Upon hearing this, Guo's face paled slightly in the candlelight.

"Master's meaning has been very clear lately: it seems the eldest young master's matter is doomed, and he'll never be able to get out of here. Now that I'm by Master's side, I dare not say a single good word for the eldest young master."

At this point, Guo's face had completely lost its color.

She leaned back in her chair, looking somewhat lost and dejected.

After a long while, she finally looked up at Li Xing'er and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Sister Xing."

Li Xing'er comforted her, "Young Madam, don't be too anxious. You're still young. Maybe things will turn around if you wait a little longer."

Guo smiled bitterly.

She was all alone in the household, and her son was only four or five years old. Judging from his appearance, he was dull-witted and not capable of great things.

After the First Madam passed away and the Eldest Young Master was placed under house arrest, how could that Zhou fellow possibly let her go?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a surge of unease, and forced a smile as she instructed, "Don't mention what happened today to anyone."

"Yes, don't worry, young mistress, I know what's important."

Li Xing'er responded with a "yes," bowed her head, and left through the door.

After leaving the house, she didn't stop walking until she reached the corner before daring to look back and loosen the hem of her clothes that she had been clutching for so long.

I don't know when, but my palms were already sweaty.

A night breeze crept in through her collar, so she pulled her collar tighter and hurried toward the back room.

in the room.

Guo sat alone in the chair for a long time.

The news that Li Xing'er brought just now completely shattered her last shred of hope.

The young master's future is bleak; he'll likely be trapped and die in the Forbidden City.

From now on, how should I conduct myself in this mansion?

A decision must be made as soon as possible.

Otherwise, it will be too late when that day comes.

Just as he was pondering this, the curtain to the door was gently lifted from the outside.

A slender maidservant dressed in a blue cloth dress walked in.

This is Chunying, the personal maid she brought from her maiden home. She has been by her side since childhood and is now considered the person Guo trusts most in the Feng family.

Chunying came in carrying a bowl of hot soup and gently placed it beside Madam Guo, softly advising, "Young Madam, please don't strain yourself. This is a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup made in the kitchen. Please have a sip to calm your nerves."

"Take it away, I don't have much of an appetite today," Guo said listlessly, waving her hand.

Chunying sighed helplessly. As she cleared the dishes, she casually remarked, "Young Mistress, the backyard is quite lively today. The First Madam's maids are all gossiping."

Guo rubbed her temples and casually asked, "What gossip?"

Chunying lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "They say the First Madam has a lot of private property hidden outside."

Madam Guo thought it was something new and didn't care when she heard it: "The First Madam has a lot of private money. Who in the mansion doesn't know that?"

What's so strange about that?

Chunying retorted, "No, I heard that over the years, the First Madam has taken money from the Feng family for herself, in addition to her personal savings. She also owns shops and estates outside the mansion, and has hidden many paintings, antiques and a large sum of silver in the house. All of this together is probably worth half of the Feng family's public treasury."

"Huh?" Guo was genuinely surprised this time.

She knew the First Madam was wealthy, but she didn't know she was this rich.

"Where did you hear that from?"

Chunying glanced behind her to make sure there was nothing there, then leaned closer and said, "I overheard this from the maids in the First Madam's room last night. They said there's a hidden compartment under the First Madam's bed, with several flat wooden boxes neatly stacked inside. Each one contains gold and silver jewelry, as well as land deeds and house deeds. They made it sound very convincing."

Guo's heart skipped a beat as she suddenly recalled an old rumor, and she was startled.

"Does the master know about these things?"

"Then this servant does not know."

Guo stood up, her heart churning with turmoil.

The fact that the First Madam is acting so secretly suggests that the rumor she heard before might be true.

If that's the case, I might be able to make a name for myself in this.

If she could get that private property into her own hands, even if the young master remained imprisoned indefinitely, she could still live a carefree and happy life without worrying about food or clothing.

Thinking of this, she had a sudden inspiration and quickly said to Chunying, "Go and find out what estates and shops the First Madam owns. Also, check carefully whether these assets were on the dowry list when she married into the Feng family."

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